Ontario Government Boosting Transit for Durham Region

Published on January 18, 2019

WHITBY, ON. Today, Peter Bethlenfalvy, Lorne Coe, Lindsey Park and Rod Phillips joined Regional Chair John Henry to announce that Ontario’s Government for the People is investing close to $9 Million in Durham Region to expand and improve public transit systems.

”Provincial funding has been paying off for our Region, allowing Durham Transit to expand and make significant improvements,” said Lorne Coe, Member of Provincial Parliament for Whitby. “The gas tax program helps residents of Durham to get out of their cars and onto transit.”

The province is providing $364 million in gas tax funding to 107 municipalities providing public transit service to 144 communities across Ontario. These communities represent over 92 per cent of Ontario’s total population.

“Our government is delivering on our commitment to improve transit in Durham Region. We pride ourselves on keeping our promises, and this investment will help get the people of Pickering-Uxbridge moving, attract new riders, and get the hard-working men and women of this region to their destination sooner,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Member of Provincial Parliament for Pickering-Uxbridge.

This year, Durham Region will receive $8,866,900 from the province’s gas tax funding, almost $200,000 more than last year. Funding for Ontario’s gas tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province. The program provides municipalities with two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenues.

“This funding will enable important improvements to Durham transit, giving Durham residents better options when travelling for work or leisure,” said Lindsey Park, Member of Provincial Parliament for Durham. “As we work to open Ontario for business, it is vital that we have the transportation infrastructure to connect Durham Region.”

Municipalities receiving gas tax funding must use these funds towards their public transit capital and/or operating expenditures, at their own discretion, including upgrading transit infrastructure, increasing accessibility, purchasing transit vehicles, adding more routes and extending hours of service. “Investing in public transit is an essential part of our Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, and helps us to do our part to reduce emissions,” concluded Rod Phillips, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ajax. “As the Member of Parliament for Ajax, it gives me great pleasure to see Durham Region leading the way with support from our government.” Peter Bethlenfalvy MPP, Pickering-Uxbridge Lindsey Park MPP, Durham